Social class, school-to-college transitions, and the student further education college experience in England

Goldstone, Ross 2022. Social class, school-to-college transitions, and the student further education college experience in England. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Whilst research on further education has provided a view of the nature of learning, governance, and professionalism in the sector, little is known about student participation in and experience of further education and how this is influenced by social class. This mixed-methods study explores the relationship between social class, school-to-college transitions, and further education participation and experience in further education. This study contributes timely evidence to contemporary debates on the sector by foregrounding social class in questions of further education transitions and student experience; an area where limited recent research exists in the sociology of education. Drawing on the theoretical ideas of Pierre Bourdieu in both its theoretical underpinning and methodological design, this study explores how economic, cultural, and social dimensions of social class shape the school-to-college transition and college experiences. In doing so, this research will show how habitus and class-based capitals come to shape the choice of qualification and subject of study in college. The study therefore contributes to prior scholarship exploring the merits of applying a multi-dimensional operationalisation of social class in mixed-methods educational research. Furthermore, the college experience is shown to be one of opportunity (a) for the rediscovery of a positive learning identity and (b) for the conversion of unequally distributed capitals to strengthen the college experience. Thus, this research contributes important findings on an area which has increasing policy significance, but which is perennially under-researched.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Funders:	Economic and Social Research Council
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 August 2022
Last Modified:	05 Jan 2024 06:20
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/151679

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